5 Ways NYWC Supports Women Survivors Of Gender-Based Violence In Toronto

When Katherine (name changed for privacy) first came to North York Women’s Centre, she was recovering from physical injuries: her partner had been removed from the home for the second time due to domestic violence. Victim Services Toronto referred Katherine to NYWC, a charitable organization in North York that supports survivors of domestic abuse and gender-based violence. 

Katherine booked a free one-on-one support appointment and felt safe sharing her experiences with NYWC staff. Together, we helped her create a safety plan and a contingency plan. She began attending our series of free Women’s Empowerment Programs, including Discovering Our Power, Exploring Our Potential and Asserting Ourselves. She regularly joined free social events, discussions and workshops at NYWC’s Drop-In Women’s Lounge. Six months later, Katherine successfully separated from her abusive partner and invested in herself by going back to school.

“Our job is to empower folks for their next step,” says Anaya Boucaud, Drop-In Services Coordinator at NYWC. Here’s how NYWC supports hundreds of women like Katherine to cope with, heal from and move forward after experiencing gender-based violence.

Connecting Women With Answers And Local Resources 

NYWC is not a crisis line, but women know they’ll get a friendly staff member eager to help when they call us at 416-781-0479 or visit us at 116 Industry St. in Toronto. Our team has community engagement experience, connections to local services, and we know who to ask if we don’t have an answer. Women and non-binary folks have asked about everything from finding food banks and housing to figuring out how to bring a family member to Canada or getting a gut-check on the appropriateness of a question asked by a real estate professional. Learn more about Helpful Resources for Toronto Women.

Helping Women Take Steps Forward With Experienced Advocates

Sometimes it’s not enough to walk away with a list of numbers and websites and know your next steps: You want someone who can take them with you. You might ask NYWC staff to make a call on your behalf, help you fill out a form, navigate a confusing government website, etc. Contact us for confidential 1:1 Support. 

One-On-One Support From Staff With Similar Lived Experience

If you’re looking for a soft landing place and someone to listen to your story, you’ll find them at NYWC. We call our staff “peer support workers” because although they don’t offer therapy or have counselling credentials, they do have training in social justice, community engagement or advocacy; and they have lived experience as women, gender-diverse folks, and survivors of gender-based violence. They listen with a trauma-informed, antiracist anti-oppressive approach. “As peers, we’re able to say, “That’s not a ‘you’ problem: I’ve experienced that too. Here’s what we can try together,” says Emily Charman, Group Programs Coordinator at NYWC. 

Finding Community And Connection After Experiencing Violence

Abuse relies on a foundation of isolation and silence. Coping with gender-based violence leaves many women feeling isolated emotionally, physically, financially, culturally or all of the above. Fear, shame, embarrassment, guilt and blame are just a few of the factors that keep abused women from speaking up about their experiences, or knowing who they can connect with. NYWC’s Drop-In Women’s Lounge offers a safe low-commitment space where women survivors can connect and find community at free weekly social events, recreational activities and educational workshops. Drop-in event themes might include books, quilting, self-care, safety planning, financial literacy, building healthy relationships or navigating the legal system. “Showing up is an act of self-care. You’re welcome regardless of your story. We don’t ask anything except hang out and be kind to each other,” says Anaya.

Free Programs For Women Recovering From Domestic Violence

Dozens of women complete NYWC’s Women’s Empowerment Series of group programs every year. These free nine-week programs help women pick up the pieces after experiencing trauma and gender-based violence. Discovering Our Power covers topics like self-esteem; self-care; managing stress, anxiety, fear and trauma; power and control. Exploring Our Potential invites women to set goals for the future while learning how to overcome barriers and triggers. In Asserting Ourselves, women learn about setting boundaries and healthy communication in intimate and romantic relationships. Trained facilitators lead the workshops, helping women gain skills, self-compassion, self-esteem and do somatic work, a body-based approach to anxiety and trauma support. “The body is the site of violence so there’s work to be done to holistically heal and repair the relationship with mind and body,” says Emily.

If you want to support women in North York to have support after experiencing domestic violence, please consider donating to NYWC.